I'm afraid that this article reflects some WLS patients I know here on the boards and in person. We need to be aware of these new psyschological disorders and guard ourselves against them. Do you see yourself in either of these?

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/new-eating-disorders-are-they-real

New Eating Disorders: Are They For Real?

I have a friend who will only eat short pasta, like penne. Another friend sticks to long pasta - linguini, spaghetti. I thought that was a bit bizarre until I read about Heather Hill, 39, whose diet consists entirely of French fries, pasta with butter or marinara sauce, vegetarian pizza, cooked broccoli, corn on the cob, and cakes and cookies without nuts.

Ms. Hill isn’t alone. New findings indicate that there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of adult picky eaters. To get a handle on the numbers, Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh have launched a national public registry of adult picky eaters. Respected publications like JAMA and Psychology Today are recognizing another new eating disorder, orthorexia, an obsession with healthy eating. That may not sound bad, as obsessions go, but those who carry good intentions too far can face serious risks. 

Eat the right foods to keep your bones strong.

Kristie Rutzel, 27, dropped to 68 pounds when she was in the grip of her fixation on healthy eating - at one point she ate little more than raw broccoli and cauliflower. Neither adult picky eating disorder nor orthorexia is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association’s “bible" of mental disorders. Once a disorder is listed, treatment is often covered by insurance and it’s easier for researchers to get grants to study it. Here’s what we know so far:

• What is Adult Selective Eating? Like kids, adult picky eaters limit themselves to an extremely narrow range of foods. Unlike those who suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia, adult picky eaters are seemingly not worried about calorie counts or body image. But so far, researchers don’t know if adult picky eaters just haven’t outgrown childhood patterns or if their eating habits are a new twist on obsessive compulsive disorder. Some may be “supertasters," with an abnormally acute sense of taste that turns them off certain foods. Many appear to have had unpleasant childhood associations with food.

• What is orthorexia? Identified in 1997 by Colorado physician Steven Bratman, MD, orthorexia is Latin for “correct eating." Here, too, the focus isn’t on losing weight. Instead, sufferers increasingly restrict their diets to foods they consider pure, natural and healthful. Some researchers say that orthorexia may combine a touch of obsessive compulsive disorder with anxiety and warn that severely limited “healthy" diets may be a stepping stone to anorexia nervosa, the most severe - and potentially life-threatening - eating disorder.

What do they eat?

• Adult picky eaters: Food preferences tend to be bland, white or pale colored - plain pasta or cheese pizza are said to be common foods along with French fries and chicken fingers. Some picky eaters stick to foods with a common texture or taste.

• Orthorexics: Those affected may start by eliminating processed foods, anything with artificial colorings or flavorings as well as foods that have come into contact with pesticides. Beyond that, orthorexics may also shun caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt, wheat and dairy foods. Some limit themselves to raw foods.

Check out this mobile phone app that guides healthy food choices.

What are the risks?

• Health consequences: Limiting your diet to only a few foods - because you’re a picky eater or have a long list of foods you deem unhealthy - can lead to potentially dangerous nutritional deficiencies. At its most extreme, a diet limited to only a few foods perceived to be healthy is described as orthorexia nervosaand can lead to the same emaciation and health risks seen with anorexia nervosa.

• Social Isolation: Being an adult picky eater can take an enormous social toll. Out of embarrassment, these folks avoid dining with friends or co-workers. Heather Hill tries to hide her eating habits from her children for fear that they will pick them up. Going to extremes in an effort to eat only healthy foods can also be socially isolating and can undermine personal relationships.

How are these disorders treated?

• Adult Selective Eating: Techniques that have proven successful in treating kids who are picky eaters - learning assertiveness skills and systematically trying new foods - are being used on adults, but it’s still too soon to know whether they work.

• Orthorexia: Cognitive behavior therapy designed to change obsessive thought patterns regarding food is usually recommended. 

hmmm, I just don't know what to make of this.  I am definitely an adult picky eater, but I reject that it is a "eating disorder".  I eat what I like, and POST WLS, I still follow all the rules.  Granted, Pre WLS, my diet consisted of everything on their list, but I do have a few more menu items than that!  As a child, my mother used to take me to the DR and complain that she feared I would die because I wouldn't eat.  He asked what I liked to eat.  My answer: peanut butter, pecans, and oreos.  He turned to my mom and told her "feed her that".  Those are still my 3 favorite foods in the world, but only peanut butter is a regular in my life.  Pecans on occassion, oreos, not at all. 

I have never felt the need to "hide" about being picky...I rarely care what other people think about anything in my life.  My life is mine, not theirs.

I totally do not see what assertiveness skills have to do with correcting an eating disorder, and I do try new foods occassionally and have even liked a few, but why the heck to I even need to like other foods?  to please others?  to fit a mold?  No thanks!

For a minute I thought this was going to describe me but It didn't have a disorader for eating mainly Chicken, Pork and some form of Beans.  I also do this in total consideration of calories and such.

Very interesting.  Not sure what to make of this.  Since my WLS I try to eat healthy but I will, upon ocassion, have a bite of cake or a cookie.  I tend to stay away from baked goods (my downfall) and processed foods just because of the empty/added calories.  I did even have a teeny tiny piece of my grandson's birthday cake last night (yes, I dumped but hey...). 

I think what we ALL need to be aware of is that everything is ok in moderation and we are not on a diet, we have changed our way of life.

The description of the adult picky eater fit me to a T except the pizza part.  Scary.  I do have a very very keen sense of taste.  Thanks for posting :)

Just wanted to add a note.  This article might lead people to believe that they cannot get counseling for treatment of eating disorders that are not specifically listed in the current DSM.  That is NOT the case!  You absolutely CAN because the DSM has a diagnosis of 307.50 Eating Disorder Not Otherwise specified (usually referred to as Eating Disorder NOS or just EDNOS).  Getting help for that is no different than getting help for an anxiety disorder that does not quite meet all the criteria for any of the standard anxiety disorders and getting a diagnosis of 300.00 Anxiety Disorder NOS.

Lora

Thanks Lora!

I saw a show once about orthorexia; maybe I watched it on youtube.

It was SCARY.

They are not simply talking about "picky eaters" with orthorexia; these people are so limited in what they will allow themselves to eat that is "healthy" that they are isolating themselves, impacting their ability to live an engaged, productive life and oftentimes are damaging their bodies with their disease.

I'm off to see if I can find a link.

www.youtube.com/watch

The above is a link to a youtube video made by a man who was spotlighted on an ABC news show about orthorexia.

Thanks Pam.  I have definately turned into a healthier eater, but after watching the utube video - I am not the nutcase that guy is.

I am eating less processed food with added sugar and salt, preservatives.  I'm also eating more raw veggies and fruits but it is because I need the roughage for constipation and I'm wanting to get the enzymes that are destroyed when food is cooked above 180 degrees.

I also eat organic - if I can (no anxiety if I can't) to decrease ingestion of pesticides, hormones, etc.  But if regular strawberries are on special, I buy them and rinse them off.

I'm certainly not fanatic and I don't hear voices or get anxious if we eat out or at a friends, etc.

I feel confident that I'm eating for health and nutrition.  I don't eat sugar and fats because they make me dump.

 I've decided I'm Ok and not orthorexic. 

Would Adam and Eve be orthorexic?  Their food was raw, organic, no additives, pesticides, hormones, no fast food, no junk food.

I do think the US govt is "in bed" with industrial food manufacturers.  Labeling is misleading, profit seems to be the most important - not the health of Americans.

Thanks for making me think.  Balance is key.